Favorite post-2000 bands?

[Cousin Hepcat]

Just curious, for those of you who appreciate golden era clothes/movies/etc and/or swing dancing, and who also sometimes listen to contemporary (2000 or later ) rock/indie/punk/alt/etc & not just golden era music or neo-swing:

What rock/etc bands do you listen to which have made new records since 2000, when Not listening to Golden Era music or neo-swing? (maybe your Top Ten)

It'd be real interesting to see the contemporary musical tastes of those who have overlapping Golden Era tastes.

I've listened for some time now mainly just to 1930s-50s swing & jazz and am looking to turn some contemporary music back on, but don't like whats on the radio (manufactured-pop & gangsta). Asking everyone I know what new bands they like. Especially interested in Loungers' tastes. so far I've found interesting post-2000 things that are being classified as (punky) ska, indie rock, and things that defy category like psychodelic indie-funk-rock... Course will never stop listening to swing. Thanks

Swing High,
- Cousin Hepcat

 

[Bebop]

Call me weird but I have not enjoyed newer bands from 2000 to present. I have listened to alot of new music and have said, "That sounds ok" but not good enough for me to even remember who it was.[huh] That is why I always reach back to bebop and the new jazz artists. Improvised jazz by the traditional artists of yesteryear is far more interesting to me. If anyone has any suggestions for new music that they like, I would love to know what to go for. I am always open to all music.

 

[Salv]

Swing/R&B/jump blues aren't my main musical interests, and I got to that stuff from my love of classic soul music. I was interested in hearing where soul came from so delved further backwards, but my main musical interest has always been soul and funk.

As far as new soul goes there is a brand new CD by Candi Staton called His Hands which is, to my ears, the finest soul album to be released for 20 years. Candi is best known for her disco hit Young Hearts Run Free, but in the early 70's she was recording in Muscle Shoals, Alabama at the Fame Studios, and her material from that era is some of my favourite music ever.

I'd also highly recommend Lee Fields, and his CD from 2002 Problems. An excellent blend of James Brown style funk and gritty soul. He released a 45 called Could Have Been in 2004 on the Daptone label which gave me chills when I first heard it. Raw soul pleading at its best.

Also on Daptone is the wonderful Sharon Jones, backed by the Dap-Kings. To date Sharon has released 2 albums, the second of which - Naturally - runs Candi Staton a very close second for best soul album for 20 years.

All of this music is defiantly retro-sounding but, in an era when "rhythm and blues" refers to mechanical arrangements plodding along behind histrionic vocalists, it's a welcome relief to hear a great singer and a proper band of musicians.

 

[penfencer]

Look for "Gnarles Barkley" and the song "Crazy." It's a big hit in England and on the internet. The album will be released in the U.S. on May 4.

Nice retro R and B sound. I haven't been excited by new music in years but this is a great tune.

 

[mysterygal]

given the right mood...there are some alternative music out there that I love to listen to, Chad Croeger comes to mind. I'm also a huge Sting fan

 

[herringbonekid]

i was an indie-guitar kid back in the 90s, so a lot of classic indie-music is in my blood (the smiths, the fall, the pixies etc). as for current bands i like.... the white stripes, sons and daughters, clinic, the tiger lillies, dirty three, tom waits, the handsome family.

 

[jake_fink]

Je creuse le Watermelon Slim:

http://www.watermelonslim.com/

C'est magnifique!

 

[Jack Scorpion]

I second both Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings ("Naturally," specifically, though I don't think I'd rate the album THAT high, Salv.) and Gnarles Barkley.

Another British soul artist is Jamie Lidell, whose new album "Multiply" is very good.

Solomon Burke released a new cover album in 2002 called "Don't Give Up on Me" which beats the three I just mentioned.

Besides that, all of Tom Waits's recent albums have been decent. I'm sure you're all familiar with him during at least some point in his career.

And Nick Cave's "Lyre of Orpheus/Abattoir Blues" in 2004 is an amazing album. Think blues rock.

Jamiroquai's "A Funk Odyssey" is also very good. British funk/soul.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Solomon Burke released a new cover album in 2002 called "Don't Give Up on Me" which beats the three I just mentioned.

oooh I shall have to go look for that...as I -love- Mr. Burke....his greatest hits album is just ace.....Cry to Me is just the best song ever....

Bobby Blues Bland is also really nice..

In the other then related genres...I like everything from psychobilly to brazilian pop music to russian belalaika to goth/industrial stuff.....so asking me what modern stuff I like....is a bit hard....

 

[Barry]

Salv - love Daptone! Sharon Jones is Excellent!

I like some of the Gearhead Record's bands.

Check out Demons from Sweden. Riot Salvation is great. I particularly enjoy "Beat on Me" and "Some Days."

Edit: I'm listening to them now - 69 ways is great too!

 

[flat-top]

The first band I thought of is The Killers. "Mr. Brightside" and "All These Things That I've Done" are now truly two of my favorite songs of all time.
Of course, my true love is vintage music, so a modern "retro" styled guy to check out is Nick Curran. Any or all of his CD's are amazing. Authentic sounding jump blues that sounds like it was recorded in the late 40's!!
flat-top

 

[Viola]

I would have to agree with giving The Killers the nod, as well as a number of country groups. I've always been a country fan. I like Montgomery Gentry, Van Zant, Brooks and Dunn, etc.

Though sometimes country radio is just annoying/depressing and the line "they sound tired but they don't sound Haggard. They got money but they don't have Cash..." sounds absolutely true. For instance, my ONE country radio station insists on playing Sheryl Crowe. Ick.

 

[Salv]

I second both Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings ("Naturally," specifically, though I don't think I'd rate the album THAT high, Salv.)

I love Naturally. If not quite 20 years it was literally the first new soul album (i.e. not a compilation or reissue) since Sam Dees' Secret Admirer in 1989 that I couldn't fault. All original material, played by a tight, committed band of young musicians using real instruments, and featuring Sharon's emotive, gritty vocals on some fine songs. There's far more variety than on Sharon's first album, with deep soul ballads sharing space with hard funk. And on top of that there's a fantastic duet with Lee Fields. I can't think of any soul album of the 90's or 00's that got it all so exactly right, until Candi Staton's new album was released a few weeks ago. I saw Sharon and the band in London on their last short European tour, and they put on a brilliant show - I'd seen the band backing Lee Fields a few years ago, and they get better and better the more they play together.

Bobby Blues Bland is also really nice..

He's one of my favourite singers ever. I was digitising a few of his early 60's Duke albums just yesterday so I could have them on my iPod. I hadn't listened to them for a while and I'd forgotten just how good they are. I did Two Steps From The Blues, Ain't Nothing You Can Do and Call On Me and there's hardly a bad track on any of them.

I like some of the Gearhead Record's bands.

Damn, that stuff's good! Thanks for the heads-up Barry. I used to buy a lot of punk stuff in the late 70's (I even saw the Sex Pistols live in '77) but haven't really bothered with it much lately - I'll have to get those V/A compilations.

 

[Jack Scorpion]

And on top of that there's a fantastic duet with Lee Fields.

Oh, that's Lee Fields? I love that song. Is this romance or circumstance? I'll go look for some Lee Fields albums.

 

[Steve]

I love the sounds of U2, Matisyahu, David Crowder*Band, and random songs from different country artists. Right now David Crowder's latest album "A Collision, or 3+4=7" is something I make a point to listen to every day.

 

[Salv]

Oh, that's Lee Fields? I love that song. Is this romance or circumstance? I'll go look for some Lee Fields albums.

Problems is excellent, the Could Have Been 45 on Daptone is a classic, and he has a new album, The Naked Truth, that I need to pick up as soon as I can. The new album is apparently mainly ballads and mid-tempo stuff with only two upbeat funkers. If you want a funkier album Let's Get A Groove On on Desco from 1999 is the one to look for, but Desco went bust - most of the staff went on to Daptone, including the band who became the Dap-Kings - and the album's fairly rare now. There are a few amazon.com sellers that are offering it for about $50.00

 

[Quigley Brown]

Try 'Down To The Bone'...a real funky jazz group out of Britian.

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

Any "yes" votes from loungers for any of these bands?:
- Jack Johnson
- Mighty Mighty Bosstones
- Reel Big Fish
- soundtracks from Grey's Anatomy, or Garden State, or Wicker Park
- Gomez
- Death Cab For Cutie
- The Flaming Lips

Chad Croeger comes to mind

with Nickelback? - didn't even know they were Canadian till I googled the name. Like a couple of their songs; wish local radio wouldn't play them to death.

Salv, that's great to see companies out there still making great sould music, and on vinyl 45s at that! Is Parliament's "The Clones of Doctor Funkenstein" not the coolest album cover by any band, ever...

Bebop, I know what you mean about not liking anything new but the new jazz artists. Speaking of, I'm sure you've checked out Joshua Redman's stuff (before the "Elastic" synth stuff in his latest two CDs) - he played our auditorium when I was in college and was Great!

Swing High,
- Cousin Hepcat

 

[Barry]

As far as the Boston, MA Ska bands go I always liked Bim Skala Bim a little better. It's pre-2000 but the "Live at the Paradise" CD was excellent. "Diggin' A Hole" is one of my favorite Ska songs.

Also worth looking into if you enjoy blues, surf and rockabilly is Dexter Romweber (on tour now) of the Flat Duo Jets. Check out Rockin' Maybell and Tombstone Boogie.

Barry

 

[mysterygal]

You can put me down for a yes on being a mighty mighty bosstones fan